Representatives of waterfowl organizations, interested hunters and the public are invited to attend a briefing, Friday, Aug. 10, beginning at 1 p.m., at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitor's Center, Hopeland Road, two miles south of Kleinfeltersville. Co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Susquehanna River Waterfowlers Association, the briefing will focus on the status of Atlantic Flyway waterfowl populations and proposed preliminary federal frameworks for the 2012-13 waterfowl hunting seasons.

In addition to reviewing frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for upcoming waterfowl and migratory bird seasons, PGC staff will provide updates on current and planned research and management programs, as well as past hunting results. Public comments will be accepted at the meeting, or by sending a letter to: Pennsylvania Game Commission, Bureau of Wildlife Management, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, Pa. 17110-9797; or via e-mail through

WaterfowlComments@pa.gov.Based on public comments, PGC staff will prepare and present recommended waterfowl and migratory bird seasons, bag limits and related criteria to the USFWS for final approval. All migratory bird hunting seasons and bag limits must conform to frameworks set by the USFWS. States select their hunting seasons within these established frameworks.By mid-August, when the final selections are made, the PGC will issue a news release on the regular hunting seasons for migratory birds. The agency also will post the annual brochure outlining the seasons and bag limits for waterfowl and migratory bird seasons on its website (http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/).*******Registration is underway through Wednesday, Aug. 8, for the Women's Outdoor Day, Saturday Aug. 18, with group assignments beginning at 7:30 a.m., at Friedensburg Fish and Game Association, 169 Stone Mountain Road. Sponsored by the Schuylkill County Sportsmen's Association, the free event, which includes lunch, is open to any women - including those living outside Schuylkill County age 16 and older. For information and registration, contact Christy Zulli at the Schuylkill Conservation District by calling (570) 622-3742, ext. 114, or emailing czulli@co.schuylkill.pa.us.*******Sunday's edition of "Experience The Outdoors," hosted by award-winning Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz, at 7 a.m. on 1410 WLSH and 9:30 a.m. on Magic 105.5, will feature Schuylkill County Sportsmen's Advisor Board representative Craig Morgan.*******First Frontier Militia will hold a muzzleloader shoot, Sunday, Aug. 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club, Gun Club Road, off Route 248. For information, call Roger Fisher at (610) 377-2812.******County treasurers will begin accepting applications for first round of unsold license, Monday, Aug. 6, by mail, from resident and nonresident hunters. Treasurers will begin accepting applications for second round of unsold license, Monday, Aug. 20, by mail, and will begin over-the-counter sales for Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5C and 5D, Monday, Aug. 27.*******Bear's Head 3-D course is open daily through Friday, Oct. 12, from dawn to dusk daily, on club grounds located off I-81 exit 134, 148 Lofty Road, Delano. For information, call the association at 570-467-0331.******Hazleton Archery Club, 170 Woodside Drive, Freeland, has 3-D shoots Sundays, beginning at 7 a.m., and Thursdays, beginning at 4 p.m., For information, call the club at 570- 450-0988.*******Weaknecht Archery, Kutztown, is holding a 3-D shoot, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 11 and 12, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., For information call the shop at 610-683-7405.*******At the recent quarterly meeting of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the commissioners approved catch-and-release regulations for American shad on the Lehigh and Schuylkill rivers beginning in 2013. Management of fisheries in state waters along the Atlantic Coast is coordinated through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which recently called for a catch-and-release regulation for American shad fisheries which cannot be demonstrated to be sustainable.